Speaking at a forum on the Labour Chapter of the TPPA at the Straits Building here today, Karuppiah said Malaysia was committed to the agreement and that the United States “is very serious”.
“Since it (TPPA) was signed on Feb 4, 2016, we have been given the timeline of two years to make the necessary amendments to our legislation and we’ve already embarked on it,” he said.
“The US is very serious about it. I was surprised that after signing it they (US officials) came to see the draft on the amendments to labour legislation, but we told them that we’ve been given two years and that we are just beginning to start.”
He added that though those opposed to the agreement had the right to voice their opinions and the government had the duty to engage with all stakeholders, it would not make much of a difference since the agreement had already been signed.
“You can share your views, but we will not take it into consideration,” he quipped.
He gave his assurance that the negotiators would have looked at both the pros and the cons before deciding to sign the agreement.
“The government has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of the agreement, but we are looking at the bigger picture which includes an increase in revenue as well as job opportunities.”
However, he conceded that not all of the agreement was good, just as not all of the agreement was bad.
“Some SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) may end up losing out. There is good in the agreement and there are also downsides.”